By Margarette Purvis,

Last night I witnessed the close of my second full month as the Food Bank’s new CEO. I’ve learned many things that only a 60 day journey could teach and I plan to use them all. I learned that when my assistant asks me to repeat something with a lifted eyebrow she’s really saying, “I don’t think you should do that and I’m probably going to secretly change it for your own good.” In the midst of reorganizing programs and teams, I’ve learned that even when changing for the better, change is change and it just scares the socks off of most people…even the really talented and committed ones. 

So, here I am dragging around my newfound lessons and being told by staff that I have YET ANOTHER meeting to attend. For the record, I truly LOVE THIS JOB. I love the organization. I love our mission. Heck, I even love my eyebrow-lifting assistant. However, the pace coupled with back-to-back meetings, interviews and vision setting can often make a girl DREAM of a nap on the sofa. So the thought of yet another meeting requiring a trip on the subway was not EXACTLY how I saw myself spending a Wednesday night.

Nevertheless as a trooper, I gathered my things and applied a bit more lip gloss and went about my merry way. Was I dragging a bit behind my team? Maybe. I was tired and it was late and cold. When we entered the elevator our team’s fundraising guru suddenly started giving me some last minute stats on philanthropy. I gave her my raised eyebrow look that means, "I kinda want to kick you but since you’re doing your job…I get that that would be wrong." When the doors opened we left the elevator to walk to the apartment of the host of our meeting..and THERE IT WAS. Right outside the apartment door was a clothes rack and pile of shoes. My first thought: “Dear Lord, this is a no shoes zone.” I will admit that a mild panic shot through us all. For me, it’s been about five years since I’ve been a part of this particular NY phenomenon. Note to Non- NY’ers: No shoe zones are one measure used by NY’ers to keep a healthy home since NY is a heavy pedestrian city. However for another team member it was shocking for another reason: she had holes in her socks! Once we gathered ourselves from the exhausting laughter that this moment caused, I passed my socks to her and again, away we went.

Inside the apartment were new faces from varying careers and backgrounds all excited about our upcoming Gala. I will admit that while I expected YET ANOTHER meeting about a business event, I was pleasantly surprised to find something VERY DIFFERENT. Inside the apartment were varying types of New Yorkers discussing a shared passion for a single mission…all while wearing socks. So in less than 60 minutes, a retired banker, a voice-over star, a talent agent, a tech guru, a past user of emergency services and a new mom provided my team and me with a little “end of the day jolt.” You see in the business of philanthropy, you work tirelessly at HOPING you’re making a connection to supporters. Last night, I was blessed by a clear message that said, "not only are people connecting to our mission…they SHARE IT and happily Join us in trying to meet it."

So just like that…a long night turns into a great night and a long “to do” list transforms into a pretty exciting walk (in a really BIG) park. So thank you to last night’s hosts. We’re now considering ending all sayings about “rolling up our sleeves” in exchange for plans to TAKE OFF OUR SHOES! You’ve coined a new custom in our shared village and apparently, it works…REALLY WELL.
 

By Matthew Rebholz, FedEx Senior Communications Specialist,

FedEx team members are gathering today to kick off a $2 for $1 matching fundraiser to support the Food Bank For New York City’s Community Kitchen & Food Pantry in Harlem. This year, the Community Kitchen lost nearly half of its annual budget because of reallocations in state funding. 

Inspired by the Community Kitchen’s daily efforts to provide nutritious food for low-income New Yorkers in the face of a reduced budget, FedEx is aiming to raise $5,000 through our Virtual Food Drive page. On this page, you can make a difference by shopping through five aisles of food items — many of which are commonly served at the Kitchen.

And remember, FedEx will donate $2 for every $1 you give through our Virtual Food Drive — so help us hit our goal by October 26 and triple your impact on hunger in New York City!

As a longtime Food Bank partner, FedEx is thrilled to leverage its support of the Food Bank to help turn $5,000 in individual donations into $15,000 — which can provide 75,000 meals at the Community Kitchen. But if we’re going to hit that goal, we need your help. So, please, donate today and pass the word on!

By Lydia Smith,

As the leading hunger relief organization in New York City, the Food Bank plays a vital role in responding to natural disasters that affect the five boroughs. So, when news of Hurricane Irene came on a Friday afternoon, the Food Bank jumped into action.

Through our most valuable resource — a citywide network of approximately 1,000 food assistance programs — the Food Bank is positioned to bring assistance to our city wherever it is needed.

To maximize the effectiveness of our network and operations, the Food Bank maintains partnerships with the NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM), the American Red Cross (ARC) and Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) for both New York State and City. Further, because the Food Bank is the contracted provider of food from the federal, state and city emergency food programs, we are prepared to respond to calls from the agencies in Washington, Albany and City Hall that manage those programs.

With these systems and relationships in play, the Food Bank quickly established plans to respond to Hurricane Irene come hell or high water, literally.

The Food Bank’s executive team immediately moved to ensure business continuity by establishing contact with our partners and setting up transportation and communication plans for key staff. Within the hour, our warehouse team had positioned our stock of water to be ready for immediate distribution, ensured the availability of manually operated equipment and set up schedules to monitor operation of our cooler and freezer. Meanwhile, the Food Bank’s Agency Relations team worked with OEM to map network programs by zone as well as identify those near evacuation sites.

While the widespread flooding that was feared did not occur, many low-income neighborhoods did experience prolonged power outages. For New Yorkers who struggle just to afford food, food spoiling due to lack of refrigeration can be a serious setback.

When Monday, August 29 arrived, the Food Bank was fully operational and able to deliver scheduled orders. Further, our Benefits Access team has led an effort to assist food stamp recipients in applying for replacement of food purchased with their benefits that was lost due to the storm. Working in partnership with the NYC Human Resources Administration and through outreach to areas that experienced flooding and loss of power, the Food Bank is focusing our energies on reaching New Yorkers who lost needed food.

After that very long weekend of preparation and anticipation, I am proud of what our organization is capable of — and am happy to tell you that the Food Bank will always remain ready.

As Director of Operations, Lydia Smith helps to manage business continuity policy and represents the Food Bank on the board of the New York City VOAD.

By Noemie Craven,

It’s a rainy Monday evening in Union Square, and the buzz in the air is louder than usual.  Commuters rushing to their trains slow down and are drawn to the southwestern corner of the square by music coming from a cheery blue truck: it's Barilla's Pasta truck, bringing a Meal for a Meal  to busy commuter hubs all over the city!

The concept is simple:

For each dinner kit given away, Barilla will donate $1 to the Food Bank.  With a campaign slated to give away 20,000 kits, and the Food Bank's buying power stretching each dollar to provide 5 meals, a Meal for a Meal can provide 100,000 meals for New Yorkers in need.

Each person that stops by the truck receives a free Spaghettata To-Go dinner kit  which includes a box of Barilla spaghetti, fresh greens, a jar of Barilla sauce, exclusive Academia Barilla olive oil and vinegar and two tickets to Casa Barilla - everything you need to share the table with family and friends.

The kits are going fast but you still have time to pick one up tonight, August 17 and tomorrow, August 18.  You can find the pasta truck at 59 Street and Lexington Avenue tonight from 4-8pm (or while supplies last) and at the same time Thursday at West 58 Street and Columbus Circle.

Barilla's celebration of Italian food and culture continues into September with Casa Barilla,  taking place in Central Park from the 13th to the 16th.  This 4-day celebration of Italian food and culture will feature interactive cooking classes, food and culture workshops, children's activities and more.  Each $5 admission to Casa Barilla will be donated to the Food Bank.

And for an extra special Italian treat, Barilla is sponsoring Andrea Bocelli: Live in Central Park  on September 15.   As the exclusive food provider for concert-goers, Barilla will create a cultural and culinary experience inspired by the cuisine of Italy and donate 25% of all sales to the Food Bank.

Buon Appetito!

Photo: Getty Images for Barilla

By Melissa Garba Baker,

During the summer months, we on the CookShop team spend time looking back on the last school year’s trials and successes. This summer, we are especially proud of an initiative we piloted in partnership with Target last year: Keeping Schools Healthy.

Keeping Schools Healthy complemented the CookShop nutrition education program by providing extra take-home food and nutrition education resources for CookShop participants. Thanks to Target’s generous grant, the Food Bank was able to provide more than 250 CookShop students and their families at a Queens elementary school with free pantry bags filled with healthy food and newsletters highlighting nutrition tips and tasty recipes for families to prepare together.

The CookShop curriculum teaches nutrition and cooking skills and fosters enthusiasm for whole foods — including fruit, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and low-fat and fat-free dairy products. So the Keeping Schools Healthy pantry bags not only reinforced CookShop’s in-class lessons, they provided all the ingredients for the whole family to cook and learn together!

This spring we received glowing letters from some of the parents participating in the Keeping Schools Healthy initiative at P.S. 116 Q. Parent Sabina Osolmo wrote, "The CookShop program has changed my child and also us in the way we eat. We are eating more simple and nutritious meals and healthier snacks since the program has begun."

And, speaking to the value of combining nutrition education with the healthy take-home food Target helped to provide, parent Brenda McKensie wrote, "The CookShop program provides us, the parents, the opportunity to learn new ways of preparing healthy meals for our family and it provides for us free food that we are not always able to buy."

We extend a hearty “Thank you!” to Target for their help working towards a hunger-free New York.

Melissa Garba Baker is a CookShop Site Monitor at the Food Bank For New York City.

By Josh Wessler,

This week, in a joint venture with the Mario Batali Foundation, the Food Bank is launching an exciting new nutrition and health education program, Community CookShop, at food pantries and soup kitchens across the city.

The Community CookShop pilot program breaks new ground for the Food Bank. For the first time, our nutrition workshops will pair parents and caregivers with their children to learn and cook together. Also a first, the workshops will be available at several of our member programs — food pantries and soup kitchens — in all five boroughs. And finally, it is our first time partnering with the Mario Batali Foundation.

The Food Bank and the Mario Batali Foundation share a belief in the power of hands-on learning to equip families for a healthier future. Based on that belief, Community CookShop engages whole families in practicing strategies to get the most food at the best quality for the lowest cost. Community CookShop is modeled on the Food Bank’s successful CookShop program, the largest provider of nutrition education in New York City public schools. Like CookShop, the new Community program will use hands-on activities to enhance participants’ skills for maximizing their food budgets, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and preparing tasty recipes.

All recipes for Community CookShop have been crafted by internationally-renowned chef, author and restaurateur, Mario Batali, who is also a dedicated member of Food Bank’s Board of Directors, the chair of our Culinary Council and an active proponent of child nutrition. All of Mario's CookShop recipes use nutritious, affordable ingredients that are available in local stores and food pantries throughout the city.

"Having been on the board and working with Food Bank for over 10 years, I feel honored and privileged to partner with them on this important step towards improving nutrition education,” said Mario Batali. “The Food Bank's strong ties in the community will undoubtedly make huge strides for many deserving families in NYC and hopefully help lead the way for the entire nation.”

Lucy Cabrera, President and CEO of the Food Bank, said, “We are thrilled to partner with the Mario Batali Foundation on this important nutrition initiative. Thanks to the Foundation’s generous support, we will now be reaching even more families, in their own communities, providing them with lifelong skills to create and sustain a healthier future.”

The Food Bank’s integrated services — food distribution, income support and nutrition education — help New York City families keep healthful food on the table through the toughest times.

Josh Wessler is CookShop Classroom Associate at the Food Bank. For more information about Community CookShop or to get involved, email cookshop@foodbanknyc.org.

by Katherine Mancera

We are delighted to announce that the Food Bank has received an award from the Columbia Pediatrics Program for the second year in a row!

A CookShop teacher helps her student learn why eating healthy is important

The award recognizes the partnership and collaboration between our CookShop nutrition education program and Healthy Schools, Healthy Families (HSHF) – part of Columbia University Medical Center’s Pediatrics Program that reaches medically under-served children in Northern Manhattan.

We were also thrilled to recently hear glowing reviews from both HSHF schools that currently participate in CookShop!

“The children are so excited to share recipes with their family and make recipes at home,” Alyson Platkin, a kindergarten teacher at The Jacques Cartier School (P.S. 102M), said.

Alyson said her students – who are “ecstatic to see CookShop on our schedule every Thursday” – often don’t have the opportunity to eat fruit and vegetables at home. But through CookShop, the children explore healthy foods, learn about their benefits, get to taste them – and then start to encourage others to eat healthfully.

Having trouble picturing kindergarten kids encouraging others to eat healthy? Sandra Gittens, Principal of Jacques Cartier, sees it all the time. "In the 15 years which I have been involved with CookShop,” Sandra told us, “the program has empowered several generations of my own students and families."

Dr. Peter L. McFarlane, principal at The Hugo Newman School (P.S. 180M), had this to add: “The program has been an invaluable addition to our early childhood program. Our entire school community has loved this program.”

Helping students and families make healthy food choices on a limited budget is what CookShop is all about. And just like CookShop, HSHF promotes healthy lifestyles and addresses unmet health needs in whole school communities.

Many thanks to Healthy Schools, Healthy Families for the recognition – we are honored. And thanks to all of the CookShop teachers and principals who do such a wonderful job of bringing healthy change to students and their families in more than 1,300 public elementary school classrooms!

by Ashley Goforth

Food Bank For New York City would like to announce its endorsement of the ”Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act.” As our supporters know, the Food Bank works to educate members of the public and government officials at the city, state and federal levels to enlist their support in combating food poverty. To better understand the idea of a living wage and the Food Bank’s role in this effort, we asked Triada Stampas, Director of Governmental Relations & Public Education, to elaborate more on the campaign and the Food Bank’s mission to end food poverty.

What is a living wage?
A living wage is the hourly wage rate necessary for a person to afford basic needs, like housing, food and health care.  Because cost of living varies from place to place, the amount that would constitute a living wage in one city or area might be higher or lower than in another.  In New York City, existing legislation has already defined the local living wage as $10/hour with benefits or $11.50/hour without benefits.

What is Living Wage NYC?
Living Wage NYC is a coalition of organizations that are working toward a living wage for all New Yorkers.

What is the Living Wage NYC proposing?
The campaign’s big push right now, which the Food Bank has endorsed, is for passage of the “Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act” (Int. 251-2010). The bill would require developers and major employers who receive government subsidies for economic development projects to guarantee that the jobs created by those projects will pay a living wage.

Why is the Food Bank involved?
The Food Bank strives every day not only to provide food to the 1.4 million New Yorkers who rely on our network of approximately 1,000 community-based member programs, but to tackle the financial, educational and public policy issues that perpetuate hunger and food poverty.  Right now, New York City’s unemployment rate is still almost double what it was at the start of the recession, and the current minimum wage ($7.25/hr) is well below a living wage.  So too many New Yorkers simply don’t have the resources to provide sufficient food for themselves and their families on a regular basis – in fact, our research shows 3 million New York City residents had difficulty affording food over the past year. Ensuring that those employers who receive city subsidies in turn provide a living wage to their employees is a significant step in the right direction – and if we are going to fulfill our mission of ending hunger in New York City, supporting work to secure the dignity and independence of a living wage for more New Yorkers is one of the most important things we can do.

How can our supporters help?
The best way to show support is to contact our City Council Members and  let them know that our city's low-wage workers need a living wage. Our supporters can sign our online petition or call their council member's office to make their voice heard.

by Daniel Buckley

While many of you may not be familiar with Jetro Cash & Carry, it is probably safe to say that you are only one step removed from the business they provide. Jetro is the nation’s leading wholesale business providing food and supplies to grocery retailers and foodservice operators. While most New Yorkers do their shopping with a handheld basket, shoppers at Jetro stroll through warehouse aisles loading industrial carts (see photo) with supplies.

With their Fill-A-Truck Food Drive, Jetro took the idea of a traditional community food drive and expanded it to fit their retail business and bring shoppers together to support and learn about hunger in our city. Maximizing the result of their food drive, Jetro invited their shoppers to a series of four events at their Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens warehouses through industry publications and in-store promotions.

When customers arrived at Fill-A-Truck events, they were greeted in the parking lot by a DJ pumping out salsa beats and tents with information about the Food Bank and refreshments and samples from sponsors like Bustelo. While shopping for supplies by the case, shoppers were encouraged to purchase an extra case or two to donate to the Food Bank. Making sure that shoppers made a real connection with the Food Bank and felt the impact of their donation, they were lastly invited to bring their donations directly to a Food Bank 18-wheeler, where they could see their gift loaded into a truck that would bring the groceries directly to soup kitchens, food pantries and other community-based member programs in our citywide network.

In the end, Jetro raised an amazing 51,000 pounds of groceries for New Yorkers in need. That’s definitely the most impressive food drive I’ve ever seen!
 

by Alexandra Talbot

As the founder of CHEFs for Schools, Inc. — a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that strives to alleviate food inequality in underserved communities by training and placing student volunteers in worthwhile service opportunities - I am proud to support CookShop, the core nutrition education program of the Food Bank For New York City.

Since CHEFs’s inception in the spring of 2007, we have made tremendous strides toward our goals of improving food security, alleviating childhood obesity, and achieving food justice by supporting equal access to affordable and nutritious groceries. Our partnership with the Food Bank has been a major factor in reaching these goals.

I learned about CookShop while working as an intern at the Food Bank in the fall of 2008. CookShop is a federally-funded nutrition education program that helps children, teens and adults develop nutrition knowledge and cooking skills through hands on workshops. The program currently reaches approximately 30,000 New Yorkers, including students in more than 1,300 public elementary school classes and after-school programs.

I quickly realized the benefits of placing volunteers in CookShop Classroom for Elementary School, the program’s component for students in pre-K through second grade. Volunteers enjoy building relationships with elementary school students in underserved neighborhoods, and seeing the impact of their work as the children develop new skills and learn to make healthy food choices. By assisting the teachers, volunteers make CookShop even easier to implement, helping to increase the number of participating classrooms.

CHEFs helps recruit CookShop volunteers through a unique cultivation program in which university chapters offer educational, free and fun events that bring students together around a shared interest in food issues. For example, the CHEFs for Schools’ Chapter at NYU offers free monthly cooking classes that unite and educate prospective and current volunteers around delicious, nutritious meals, while the CUNY Hunter Chapter will launch a food justice speaker series in the fall.

CHEFs aim is to recruit the most capable and motivated volunteers possible. The CookShop program requires no prior experience in public schools or food preparation, welcoming a wide variety of volunteers ranging from college students to working professionals. CookShop provides all volunteers with free training to improve their understanding of food preparation skills with elementary school children and demonstrate how to support a classroom during exploratory and cooking lessons.

I hope that you will join us in our efforts. Please take a moment to review the Food Bank’s various volunteer opportunities, including CookShop, and learn more about CHEFs’s efforts to impact food justice through volunteerism.